Batting apparatus for baseball games and the like



Feb. 24, 1931. a P. T. SIMMONS ,9 9 BATTING APPARATUS FOR BASEBALL'GAMES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Aug. 17 1923 INVENTOR. I PARKER 77 Emma/v5,

I v ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 11931 UNITED STATES PARKER r. SIMMONS, or EAST HAMPTON, NEW YORK BATTING APPARATUS iron BASEBALL GAMES AND THELIKE .A n'eenen filed August 17, 1928, serial m5. 300,238. Renewed July 11, 1930.

The invention has for an object to present an improvement in batting devices suitable for game boards and apparatus where games simulating standard outdoor games of base- 6 ball are played. ,It aims to present a batting device which maybe constructed in an attractive and simple form, adapted to add realism tothe game played, at the same time afi'ord ing novel structure in the actuating and control mechanisms and conveniently operated by a player. It is an important purpose to enable theconstruction of the principal parts from sheet metal, so that a game of this kind of extensive proportions may still be commercially produced at a low cost.

The mounting device is particularly adapted for use in apparatus described in my copending application Serial No. 300,236, baseball game and apparatus, filed August 17, 1928, directed to apparatus for indoor baseball. Advantages and novelty of the invention will be understood from the accompanying description and drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. e

Figure 2 is a top view thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail of the latch and reset mechanism.

There is illustrated a portion of a game board floor 10, upon the under side of which there is secured a bracket 11 substantially U-shaped, the arms being turned. outwardly and secured to the under side of the floor. Centrally over this bracket a flanged ferrule or bearing collar 12 is secured to the floor and receives therethrough the upper end of vertical stud shaft 13 transversely slotted in its upper end and projected slightly'above the floor, being revoluble in the collar and also revolubly mounted upon the bight of the bracket in any approved way. The shaft has fixed upon its lower part within the bracket a disk 14 having peripheral latch and reset notches 15 and 16 respectively therein spaced circumferentially a proper distance. Loosely engaged around the shaft between the disk and collar 12 there is a helical torque spring 17 having its lower end engaged through a suitable aperture 111 the disk so thatthe springmay rotate the disk at times. a The upper end of the spring is secured to the collar 12. The bight portion of the bracket is horizontal and planiform, and has pivoted thereon adjacent the disk a latch lever 18 having a bill 19 thereon adapted to enter the notch 15 when the disk and shaft are rotated to an initial set position against the where it may be held snugly by theaxial protractile force of the spring 17 there is a reset arm The arm projects radially beyond the diska suitable distance. Pivoted thereon is a dog 24 which bears against the periplr cry of the disk 14 by the action ofa spring 25 coacting between the arm 23 and dog. The spring in this instance is a short helical spring engaged around the pivot pin of the dog and having respective arms hooked over the back of the dogand over the edge of the lever so as to cause the dog to bear upon the disk. A contractile spring 26 is anchored upon the bracket and connected with the out or part of the reset arm 23, tending to hold it in initial position, while extending from the arm oppositely from the spring 26 there is a cord or cable 27, extended around a pulley 28 and thence to a reset finger piece 29 located near the finger piece By pulling upon the finger piece 29 the cable 27 draws the arm a suitable distance, the dog engaging the reset notch 16 on the disk 14 to move the disk and shaft against the action ofthe spring 17 until the latch lever 18 may engage the release notch 15. i i

A batter body 30 is provided having a lower leg 31 formed with a suitable socket and key to engage over the exposed slotted end of the shaft 13 and to engage in the slot therein so that the body will be rotated by s movement of the shaft. The body is also provided with a bat arm 32 at a suitable level and properly shaped to engage a small ball when thrown adjacent the device in accordancewith the uses of such appliances. The

body is also provided with an outer leg 83 having'a. foot portion 34 so located as to sweep closely over the floor 10 when the appliance is operated. At a suitable point upon the upper part of the floor there is secured a stop 35, whichmay be cushioned or resiliently formed, to check the movement of the batting device by engaging the foot3 l at the proper limit of operative movement.

Thelower part of the leg 33 maybe shaped and constructed to flex slightly when engag ing thestop andbeing formed of resilient.

material, the action the device is thereby cushloned'andquieted.

In the operation of and a ball then being properly delivered adjacent the device, the player operates the release 'finger piece 22, endeavoring to so time the action of the device that the bat arm 32 will. strike the ball asdesired.

Then the bracket is removed lower side of the floor the shaft an d reset lever maybe detached without'the use of tools or the .dismountmg of bearings. Its assembly is consequently greatly cheapened by simplification.

1 The structure of claim 1 in which the leg is formed with a resilient flexible lower part adapted to yieldingly engage the stop to cushion the stoppage of the device. 7

3. 'A deviceof the character descr bed comprising a mounting plate, a vertical shaft revolubly mounted thereon having a disk formed with two notches, a manually releasable latch positioned and operative to engage one notch when the device is in set position, a torque spring engaged with the shaft, a swingingly mounted reset dog operative to engagethe other of saidnotches when the device is attheilimit of operative movement,

" and manuallyroperable means to movethe dog against tension-of the spring for resetting of the device.

l. A batting device for games ofthe char 'acter described comprising a floor, a bracket thereunder, a vertical shaft revolubly mounted on the" bracket and projected through the floor, a diskfon the lower part of theshaft the device, for playing a game,the reset finger piece'29 s operated to draw the batt ngidevlce to initial posltlon;

from the having two peripheral circumferentially spaced notches, a helical torque spring around the shaft having one end connected to the disk and its other endfiX-edly anchored, a latch lever pivoted adjacent the disk and having a bill to engage one notch therein when the device is in set position, manually operable means to operate the latch to release the disk, a reset lever pivoted on the shaft, a spring-pressed dog on the reset lever engaging the periphery of the disk,and manually operable means to swing the reset lever.

1 ,5. The structureofclaimA; in which the disk is spaced from the lower end of the shaft, he lower extremity'of the shaftubeing journalled in the bracket, and the upper projected through the floorfwithout bracket bearing, saidl torque spring being axially compressed, whereby the shaftis thereby maintained in its bearing. 6. The structure of claim {tin which the disk is spaced from the lo werend of the shaft, the lower extremity of the shaft being journalled in the bracket, and the upper projected through the floor without bracket bearing, said torque spring being. axially compressed, whereby the shaft thereby maintained in its bearing, the reset lever be.- ing also confined between the torque spring and bracket.

7. The structure of claim 4 in which" the disk is spaced from the lower end of the shaft, the lower extremity oft-he shaft being jou'rnalled in the bracket, and the upper projected through the floor without bracket bearing, said torque spring being axially compressed, whereby the shaft is thereby maintained in. its bearing, a ferrule bearing being set in the floor aroundthe shaft with its flange below theffloor and pressed thereto by said torque spring.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

. PARKER T. siMM'oNs. 

